Improvement in construction of cars



J; E. LEE PER.

Improvement in Construqtiqn of Cars.

No. 116,069, v I Patented June 20,1871.

one to the other in a true circle.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. LEEPER, OF GODFREY, ILLINOIS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 116,069, dated June 20,1871.

panying drawing forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of freightand other cars; and it consists in a novel manner of making thecar-bodies, mainly in tubular form and of sheet metal, except asupporting-frame or platform.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 2 is a transverse section takenon the line a' w of Fig. 1. v

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. I

The frame or platform is composed of the two long parallel beams A, tiedtogether by the cross-bars O, and the body consists of the outer shellof sheetmetal plates B bent over the T-ribsE, and an inner shelf, F,similarly fittedto the inner sides of the said ribs. The ribs rest atthe ends on the timbers, and are firmly attached to them, and springover from The outer sheets meet the beams at the upper outer corners,extend down the sides therefrom, as indicated at G, and are attachedthereto. The

- ribs E are arranged as far apart as the width of the sheets, which arejoined thereto and secured by riveting or any other means. H- representsa level floor stretching from side to side above the beams and restingthereon, and I is a curved plate suspended between the said beams belowthe floor to form an air-passage for admitting air from the ends alongunder the floor, to rise up into the car through holes therein, asindicated at K, and between the outer and inner shell. The inner shell Fis also designed to be perforated for allowing air to enter between thetwo walls above the contents, and pass down into said contents, when ofgrain or other like substance, through the perforations below the grain;or air may enter the spaces from below the bottom H, the latter beingsupported above the beams and passages provided between it and thebeams.

This inner shell may extend only part way over the top, or wholly, aspreferred. The doors L may be arranged to slide in guides M, or they maybe hinged to the outer shell D to swing outward, as may be preferred.The air may be admitted to the space between the floor H and plate Ithrough openings N at the ends, or through openings 0 higher up, and beconducted downward to the said space by pipes.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent l. The combination of the beams A, crossbars (1, outerand inner sheet-metal shells D F, and the T-ribs E, all substantially asspecified.

2. The combination, with the above, of the perforated floor H and theconcave plate I, substantially as specified.

3. The bottom H and the inner shell F, being perforated and having theair admitted to them from the space below the floor, all substantiallyas specified.

JOHN E. LEEPER.

Witnesses:

BENJ. WEBSTER, CHARLES KoY.

